Under fire over the Government-hired US lobbying firm being used for attacks on one of his political opponents, President Irfaan Ali this afternoon described sanctioned businessman and Presidential Candidate, Azruddin Mohamed as a “security risk” to Guyana. He announced that systems have been activated to secure the country’s borders, natural resources, and financial system, without providing any detail.

In a Facebook live statement from his office, the President said his Government has nothing to do with the troubles facing the businessman.

‘So when we speak about national security, we are speaking about the security of our state, our natural resources, our financial system and everything, so yes he is a risk to our financial system, yes the sanctions identify him as a key figure in gold smuggling defrauding the state of Guyana over US $50 million in just about five years,  so yes he is a threat to our financial system and is a threat to our national security credibility and transparency, yes and who defined this not the Government of Guyana but the United States government in its sanctions,” the President noted.

The President also described Mohamed as a threat to the country’s diplomacy and defence of the country’s border against Venezuela.

The President made clear that nothing is personal, but moves are being made to secure the country’s security architecture.

“And let me be very clear, these investigations were there long before he announced his political ambitions or aspirations, these things did not come about yesterday, the congressmen and women, I am sure, are given briefs about every individual, the government of Guyana does not influence what these people say,’ the President stated.

Mr. Ali, said if the U.S has identified potential risks for Guyana, then the government has a responsibility to address and look deeper to find out about the linkages and connections of the risk.

“So, the U.S government has made it clear that they have enough evidence which they are pursuing in relation to this matter. It is not the Guyana government that accused and publicize Azruddin Mohamed link to gold smuggling, drug trafficking, links to Venezuela and other illegalities,” the President stated.

According to the President, Mohamed has been driving a sympathy narrative, but says the government has to do what is right to keep the country and citizens safe.

“Is there an active investigation on Azruddin Mohamed internationally and locally, yes we all know this, this is public information, long before he announced his candidacy, after the sanctions a series of actions, based on evidence and information submitted, continuous to pursued and I am not at liberty to speak at length about these,” the President said.

Mohamed has accused the Irfaan Ali-led Government of using the resources of the state through a lobbying firm hired by the Government to attack him.

While the President has denied the use of state resources for his political campaign, documents filed with the US Justice Department by the lobbying firm, showed email exchanges where “draft tweets” questioning Mohamed’s run for the presidency and linking him to the Venezuelan Government were shared with the office of a US Congressman by the lobbying firm on behalf of the Guyana Government.

That lobbying firm was hired by the Government at a cost of US$50,000 per month.

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